C4T Summary

The teacher who I've been assigned to comment on is Mr. Tom Schimmer. He's been an educator for over 20 years, so he really knows what he's talking about!

His first blog that I commented on was actually a podcast. It focused on the acceptance of a new idea. He explained that there are many steps that an idea goes through before it is accepted by the public, rather than being one single action. He actually compares it to a virus, saying that it has to go through all the filters before it has spread successfully. He also mentioned that answering the ridicule that the idea receives with more ridicule of your own is quite unprofessional and will most likely turn people away from what you are trying to accomplish. Ridicule from others, when received in the right way, will actually draw attention to the idea and make it known to more people.

Mr. Schimmer's second blog was also a podcast. In this, he further explains how to help make an idea successful by focusing on yourself. He explains that many people are so focused on their idea and their version of what is the right way to do something that they not only disagree with other people, but also discredit them. He says that this is no way to get your idea accepted, but rather a way to get people to hate you. Even if the idea is a good one, the owner of the idea has to be accepted, in a way, as well. If they don't like you, most likely your idea won't be on the top of their list either, and they'll probably try to convince others of that as well. Discredit them, and they'll discredit you!

Blog Assignment 3

Technology in Special Education

The thing that makes this video so wonderful is how excited the kids are to use their new technology. It goes to show that we are wrong in thinking that some special education children are unable to communicate with us very well, or understand what's going on. They just haven't known HOW or had the means to do so. Not only that, making their work easier and providing a way for them to get their assignments done faster allows these students to accomplish more during the school day and have a better, more rewarding experience while doing so. In addition, if this technology can be given to them in their daily life outside of school as well, it can greatly help them with their communication skills and in the long run will provide them with a much better quality of life.

I will most definitely be using the full extent of technology for special education children when i get my own classroom. There are no downsides to using it; they will be able to accomplish more, they can be more independent, it can help me (as a future teacher) interact with them more effectively, and most importantly it will give them more opportunities to be integrated into the regular education classroom with their fellow peers. I am going to try to get every special education student in my classroom a computer and adjust it to fit whatever their special needs may be: whether it be bigger text for their visual impairment, reading assistance to help them comprehend, or simpler functions to type out sentences so that they can communicate if they have physical limitations which make it hard for them to write or type regularly. Every student has the right to an education and it's up to us to find the tools to help them do it!

How the iPad Works with Academics for Autism

First of all, I have to say how thrilled I was to see the iPad work wonders for Braden, and how happy he was to be learning! That being said, I would have to choose the app called OneVoice - AAC as an addition to my learning environment. It is used as an alternative communication device which can help a child read and learn how to pronounce words correctly. The really great thing about this device is that you can control the speed at which the person on the device talks, so that it's not too fast or too slow, and you're not limited to the pre-set words and phrases on the app...you can add your own! I would use this app in the classroom for any special education student that was having difficulties reading or speaking. It would be a great learning tool because, while it doesn't replace human interaction and reading with the child, it will allow them to have independence as well and be able to start learning on their own. I think it would be a great addition to any classroom.

Gary Hayes Social Media Count

This social media count just absolutely blows my mind! As a future teacher, it would be just ignorant of me to ignore this astonishing growth in the way we communicate. In order for my students to be successful in today's world, I am going to have to teach them ways to interact on the internet. Not only is that the main form of communication for many everyday people, colleges, and workplaces; it's often the only one! If I don't teach them to interact on this scale, no matter how smart they are or how much I have taught them otherwise, they are going to be left behind by the same technology which is supposed to make life so much easier.

When I was a kid, no one had cell phones, no one had a computer in their house, and we only watched TV when we were bored with playing outside. If we wanted to get in touch with someone, we either called their house phone and hoped someone would answer, or made a trip to visit them. Whether we like it or not, those days are long since over. The internet runs the world, and we can contact someone no matter where we are with the push of a button. As a teacher, I've got to familiarize my students with these methods. Not only will it enhance the speed and effectiveness with which they communicate and get work done, but it will also prepare them for future improvements. The technology ten years from now will be nothing like what we have now, probably beyond what you and I can even imagine at this point. Not to mention the kind of revenue it's bringing in; in the future technology improvement might be the main way to make money! The key here is adaptation: we've got to teach them how to handle what they've got and what to do when changes come!

Michael Wesch: A Vision of Students Today

The bottom line is: students today just don't interact. At least, not with what the teacher is saying. Is part of this the students' fault? Yes. Is part of this the teachers' fault? Most definitely. Some teachers don't try to get students to learn. They expect them to memorize what they have lectured on for an hour and a half and then regurgitate it onto a test which they will promptly forget about a few days later. This isn't teaching anything except for how to recognize what the teacher wants in his/her classroom and how to do the bare minimum to achieve it. As stated in the video, only about 26% of the things we learn will be used later in life. That's a sad number, considering how highly education is valued when trying to get any kind of job.

Administrators, teachers, and students alike have got to start learning to use technology as a tool to benefit them rather than a source of wasting time while class is going on. Obviously, students are going to use social media regardless, so why not implement it so that it's beneficial? As a future teacher, I plan to get my students involved. That is the only way they are really going to learn. As I've said before, application is the key. If we can learn to apply knowledge to their everyday life and make it interesting to them, they are going to learn what they need to know and they are going to actually remember it. Just like on-the-job training is the best way to learn a trade, on-the-scene teaching could potentially have the same impact.

Blog Assignment 2

Did You Know?

First of all, I must say, no I did not know! That's incredible. I know that many people use Google, YouTube, and send SMS messages daily, but the fact that MILLIONS of people use them every second just blows my mind. That really goes to show how technologically dependent we have become. I don't know if I am anywhere near being prepared to be an educator. Sure, I know the basics of most subjects. However, I never considered that when the kids that I will teach graduate, the jobs available will be so much more advanced than they are now. I wonder how educators that don't have classes like these will accommodate? I need to learn as technology progresses so I will be able to adequately prepare my future students!

Secondly, you would think America, the strongest nation in the world right now, would be the smartest. The fact that we are a dwarf in comparison to India's intelligence is just ridiculous. Not to mention China will soon have more English-speaking people than the rest of the world! Well, why aren't more of us learning to speak Chinese, or even Spanish? We have so much technology, which increases by the minute, yet there are still millions of people who are so much smarter than us. That makes me question if we are really putting our resources to use. We can have all the knowledge and technology in the world, but it's only good to us if we all know how to use it! It can make us so much smarter, or just that much dumber...

Mr. Winkle Wakes

Wow, this video really left an impression on me. I was a bit confused as to what the video was about at first, and what exactly Mr. Winkle was trying to find. However, it turns out to be quite ironic. The one thing he found joy in was really the thing he should have been most disappointed to see. We put so much effort into technology and appearances, making everything appealing to the eye and to the working body. On the other hand, it leaves one to question: how much do we really care about education? We need to understand that the knowledge base of today's children is just as important, because they are the ones who will control the future!

Another disturbing thing is how true this video really is. Granted, there are some schools and classes, such as this one, which implement the use of technology. More often than not, however, a teacher standing up and lecturing all day while the students listen is the only form of learning. I've had several teachers myself that stood up and just talked all period, and honestly I didn't learn a thing. It's quite easy to memorize the material and regurgitate it onto a test. Until teachers start using more innovative technology and giving the students hands-on learning, today's kids won't be able to reach their full potential.

Sir Ken Robinson: The Importance of Creativity

I love some of the points Ken Robinson made in this video. I completely agree with his statement that we don't grow into creativity, but rather we grow out of it. It's true that schools basically train their students to fit the mold of whatever the fastest growing jobs are, rather than fitting the schooling to match the child's personality and needs. Our creativity is gradually taken away, and it turns us into the fearful individuals that he referred to. Honestly, it limits our full potential as human beings. When that confidence is taken away, it's hard to get back and some people won't make important life changing decisions, not because they aren't fully capable, but simply because they've been told so many times that they can't do something that they start to believe it.

I can also relate to his reference to stereotyping. Americans are so quick to point a finger and try to label people when they aren't exactly the same as everyone else. Personally, I believe a lot of that just has to do with not wanting to deal with those special kids. They'll label them with ADHD or some other learning disorder in a heartbeat rather than actually talking to the child and trying to figure out why he/she is acting that way. In the long run, that just leads to more problems. When that creative outlet is taken away, especially from kids who learn better actively, that pent up emotion has to come out somewhere, and many times that's where the behavioral issues begin. If we actually took the time to figure each child out, I think we would find that there is a lot more diversity than just the usual 9-5 job that most schools put their students on the path for.

A Vision for 21st Century Learning

This has been my favorite video by far that I have watched today. Whoever came up with the idea to integrate learning into a video game, almost as if to live the life that the ancient Romans or other civilizations did, was pure genius. I completely agree with this learning style. As it is now, students don't learn as they should. They can memorize things, but that's extremely boring and monotonous to them and the information that they learn doesn't stick. Getting a child involved, however, and letting them explore the mysteries for themselves will keep them entertained and they will actually be able to relate to the things that they are learning. Video games really do work too. I can name a half dozen kids who can give you step by step details on how to play and win their favorite game, but if you asked them who the first president was, they wouldn't be able to tell you. The application of the knowledge that they need to learn, along with giving them hands-on interaction, is the key to giving the students a better, more worthwhile education.

Vicki Davis: Harness Your Students' Digital Smarts

The students in this video had such a sense of empowerment. I believe that most of the time if students are given the reins on their education, they will go over and beyond what is expected of them, just as these students did. When a teacher is able to actively learn from her students just as much as she teaches them, that's when the classroom environment really becomes a success. One of the greatest hurdles in the school age years is getting students to actually WANT to learn. Once that is accomplished and they realize what they can do and how they can be an impact, the possibilities are endless.

The greatest thing about this video and what the students gain is their ability to actively use technology and apply it to their lives, as well as the lives of those around them. For most people, the entire work life revolves around dealing with other people and learning how to successfully interact with them. These students are learning these skills early, not only by interacting with other kids their age all around the world, but also by utilizing their skills and teaming together to accomplish things even though they aren't even in the same country. These students will already have valuable experience, and won't have to be thrown into the working world unprepared like other kids who are instructed in a standard classroom. This kind of learning would make a great impact if all school settings would adapt this amazing teacher's way of communication.

Project 1

Blog Assignment 1

About Me

My name is Samantha Wesson. I was born and raised in Anniston, Alabama, and relocated when I was about twelve to Ocean Springs, Mississippi because my dad found a new job and my parents had always dreamed of living closer to the beach. I have a wonderful family, which includes two loving parents who have always supported me in everything that I do, and a younger brother who may get on my nerves now, but was an excellent playmate when we were kids. I also have three cats, which may not seem that important to some, but they are an important part of our family and frankly they pretty much have the run of the house! My biggest interest is basketball: I live it, breathe it, and love being around it. Other than that, I'm a very laid back, friendly person who loves to spend time with friends and family. I'm always up for an adventure, but I'm just as content to sit back and read a good book.

I started out going to college at a small, private school called Huntingdon in Montgomery, Alabama. Really my main reason for going there was so that I could have a chance to play basketball. I had a great freshman year there and made a lot of great memories and many friends, but I decided that after that year I no longer wanted to play sports anymore. Well, halfway through my sophomore year I decided that Huntingdon just wasn't what I thought it was without basketball, so I decided to transfer. I ended up this first semester at South Alabama because it's a bigger school with more things to do, as well as being closer to home and the beach! I am entering the field of education because I'd like to be a coach. I've always had a passion for basketball, as I mentioned before, and I don't want that to end, so I'd like to help the younger generation acquire the same love that I have for the sport. That pretty much sums it up!

Randy Pausch

First of all, let me start off by saying that I have never heard of Dr. Pausch. However, he brings up some very good points. I like how he mentioned 'doing the ugliest things first'. I actually laughed at that part, because I've experienced that avoiding doing the hardest task will usually result in rushed or incompleted work, accompanied with a lot more stress than necessary. I also think his idea to question why a task should be done and what the consequences are if it is not completed is a good way to motivate and actually get things done. I definitely agree with him that in order to complete a list of tasks, you actually have to have one! He has some good suggestions that would be a great start to helping anyone learn how to manage their time more effectively.

Practice Post

My first post